The traditional start of the Flemish Cycling Week features an extra cobbles sector in the finale, in alle other aspect the race is played on on the same route as last year, when Jens Debusschere outsprinted a select peloton. Yet it could very well be Dwars door Vlaanderen will be won with a solo – Niki Terpstra did so twice in recent years. The favourites to win the race are either sprinters who feel at ease on an occasional climb or Classics riders. In theory attackers are favoured by the extra cobbles in the finale.
Competing riders Sylvain Chavanel (2008), Matti Breschel (2010), Niki Terpstra (2012, 2014), Oscar Gatto (2013), Jelle Wallays (2015) and Jens Debusschere (2016) know what it feels like to win Dwars door Vlaanderen.
Favourites Dwars door Vlaanderen 2017
*** Niki Terpstra, Arnaud Démare, Sep Vanmarcke, Fernando Gaviria, Michael Matthews
** Dylan Groenewegen, Lars Boom, Oliver Naesen, Sam Bennett, Sonny Colbrelli
* Caleb Ewan, Tiesj Benoot, Jens Debusschere, Dylan van Baarle, Jean-Pierre Drucker
Dwars door Vlaanderen 2017: Route maps, height profiles, and more
Click on the images to zoom.
Start and finish op Google Maps
Videos Flanders Classics
Instagram @dwarsdoorvl… 
Dwars door Vlaanderen Tweets
Route and profile Oude Kwaremont
Instagram #oudekwaremont
Streetview Oude Kwaremont
Oude Kwaremont at strava.com
Route en profile Paterberg
Instagram #paterberg
Streetview Paterberg
Paterberg at strava.com
Route and profile Taaienberg
Instagram #taaienberg
Streetview Taaienberg
Taaienberg at strava.com
What about: Felline, Stybar, and Petit?
Also good names, especially Stybar.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Hendrik